Adjustable scale



R. C. GILBERT ADJUSTABLE SCALE Aug. 30, 1949.

Filed Jan. 20, 1947 R. U. C z'liari Q M Patented Aug. 30, 1949 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE ADJUSTABLE SCALE Richard 0. Gilbert, Whittier,Calif. Application January 20, 1947, Serial No. 722,995

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to measuring devices.

An object of this invention is to provide a device for measuringdistances in hard-to-get-at places, such as interiors or the like.

The device herein disclosed embodies an extensible scale which isslidably mounted in a holder which constitutes a handle, the scale beingmovable into or out of the holder so that one end or the holder may beplaced at one point and the scale then extended to the other point, andthe exact distance between the two points being read on the lowerportion of the holder.

A further object of this invention is to provide a measuring device ofthis kind which includes a transversely curved scale which in itsextended position from the holder will assume a normal straight positionso that the distance between two points can be easily and accuratelymeasured.

With the above and other objects in View, my invention consists in thearrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in thedrawing and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in theappended claim.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a detail front elevation, partly in section, of a measuringdevice constructed according to an embodiment of this invention,

Figure 2 is a detail side elevation, partly broken away and in section,of th device,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure1,

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 ofFigurel.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral Ill designates generally a handleof elongated configuration which is formed at one end thereof with aright angularly extending foot member II. The handle or scale retainingmember I!) is formed of an elongated flat bar I2, having right angularflanges I3 extending from the lengthwise edges thereof, and the flangesI3 have extending from the forward edges thereof confronting flanges I4forming a scale guiding channel I5 within which a scale It is adapted toslidably engage.

The scale I6 is of bendable material, being formed of tempered steel orthe like and is curved in transverse section so that when any portion ofthe scale is extended from the foot I I, as will be hereinafterdescribed, the extended portion of the scale will stand out in astraight line from the foot II. The foot II is also formed with achannel I I communicating with the channel I5, the channel I! being ofarcuate configuration and opening at the forward end of the foot II. Thefoot II is formed with a lower straight edge I8 which is at right anglesto the rear edge I9 of the handle I0, and the straight edge I8 isadapted to be parallel with the extended portion of the scale I 6.

In order to provide a means whereby the scale I6 will be limited in itsmovement outwardly of the foot ll, I have provided a pair of confrontinglugs 21! which extend inwardly from the flanges I4. The lower edges 2|of the lugs 20 form an indicating means correlated with the numerals onthe scale I6 so that the exact distance from the lower end of the scaleI6 can be accurately determined.

The scale I6 has fixed thereto a lug 22 formed with a base plate 23secured by fastening means 24 to the upper end of the scale I6. The lug22 is adapted to abut against the lug 26 when the scale I6 is moveddownwardly to the limit of its extension from the foot member I I.

A stop lug 25 is disposed at the upper end of the channel member II] toprevent the scale I6 from being pulled out. When the lug 22 abuts thestop 25, the scale I6 is entirely within the channel member.

In the use of this scale, the foot member II is adapted to abut at itsouter or rear edge against one point and the scale I6 is then moveddownwardly until the free end thereof abuts against or is at the otherpoint between which the measurement is to be taken. The correctmeasurement between the two points may then be read at the indicatingedge 2| of each lug 26.

This scale is designed for measuring distances between two points wherethe distances are in interiors or at hard-to-get-at places. With a scaleas hereinbefore described, the correct distances between two points canbe easil and accurately determined by merely extending the scale I6 fromthe foot member I l and then reading the distance on the scale I6 at theindicating edge 2I of each lug 26. Measurements in confined places canalso be made by extending the scale I6 from the channel member andreading the measurement on the extended end of the scale I6.

I do not mean to confine myself to the exact details of constructionherein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview ofthe appended claim.

What I claim is:

A measuring device comprising a substantially L-shaped member, a channelin each leg of said member extending lengthwise thereof, a curvedchannel formed on a fixed radius and communicating at the opposite endsthereof with said channels in said legs, a normally straight bendableelongated scale member slidably carried in said channels and extendableat one end thereof at right angles to the vertical leg of said L -shapedmember, a lug carried by the other end of said scale member andprojecting outwardly of the channel in said vertical leg, stop meanscarried by said vertical leg engageable with said lug for limiting thesliding movement of said scale member in one direction, the bottom edgeof said stop means being positioned at a distance from the outlet end ofsaid channel, measured along said channel, equal to the horizontaldistance from said outlet end to the heel of said L-shaped member,whereby, said bottom edge will provide 4 index means for indicating thedistance from said one end of said scale member to the heel of saidL-shaped member.

RICHARD C. GILBERT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS

